After knocking around in high school bands, he co-founded Midnight Oil, originally known as Farm, with his mate Jim Moginie in 1972. Hirst was known for his powerful drumming and activism, co-founding the band in 1972. Hirst and Moginie began as the band’s songwriting core, before Garrett later joined them in the creative engine room. We found this place, you know, almost 40 years ago.”Hirst was proud to have made music with all three daughters. Hirst was diagnosed with stage three pancreatic cancer in April 2023, just six months after Midnight Oil played their final gig at Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion in October 2022.

Source: New Zealand Herald January 20, 2026 21:15 UTC